Two-seater submarine vessel



Aug' 9, 1960 D. l. REBlKor-'F 2,948,247

TWO-SEATER SUBMARINE VESSEL Filed sept. 16, 1958 2 Smets-sheet 1 wwwAug. 9, 1960 D. REBlKor-'F 2,948,247

TWO-SEATER SUBMARINE VESSEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1958 AlllDmifralnnmm Rdf-mf United States Patent y 2,948,247 Y 'TwosEATER-sum'ARm DimitriIssiewifehnebikdiwsBlvd.creampie, Cannes, Alpes Maritimes,.France Filati separa, 195s,'seir. No."161,3`66 claims priority,applicatidnimme rspt. r116, .19*7" s'claims. `(cl. 114-16) l-Lightweight submarine vehicles for :divers equipped with. independentrespiratory apparatus rare ik'nown .1in which the equipped diver isimmersed in the 'Water 1in direct -contact therewith, carried on Iawater-tight shell with which he :forms a'unit, this `shell enclosing,protected from the water, driving means actuating an "external7propulsion system and supporting diving' controls 'oper- :ated `Aby thepilot by 4means of Ahis vhands andfeet.

These vessels rare fgen'era-lly of tapered :torpedo form vand th'eenclosed vdrivingzmeans are usually aceumulato'rs and Fan electricmotor. .They can lbe enclosed the -pilot .in-a casing which is fat least:partially transparent and not watertight, -and'which can1be=opened`toiperniit -access of the pilot and may or ."may not beprovided with temporarily inilatable iloats, by which the assembly fistilted hydrodyna'rnieally.

Such single-seater vessels permit aigreat varietyof yevolutions in thewaterfsince theyare :piloted #more :in the manner of an aircraftcap-able v4pf assuming 'more -positions than a conventional submarine,fwhichfloes :not readily exceed positions slightly inclined with.respect to the horizontal.

-It is desirable, especially for rthey training of new pilots, -to beable to use a ltwo-seater apparatus-withdal vcontrols, lin which thepupil can see Aand fsense rthe The -arrangement of the lsingle-seater4machine cannot Y `beconverted into a two-seater machine for'thispurpose, and on -the other handit is ydesirable that the changeover froma two-seater to a single-seater --machine fdoesnot essentially changethe'manner in which the pilot is` sup- ,ported by the machine and themanner in whichthe latter Iis piloted. l

The object of the presentiinvention Ais to .provide fa suitabletwo-seater vessel.

The invention provides a two-seater submarine vessel or independentdivers, which vessel is constituted by two similar strearnlinedshellskeach carrying one of VthediverS in known manner,,particularlycharacterised in that `these two shells are disposedsubstantiallysymmetrically with respect to one another on each side of avplane `andare connected to one another'by atleast one transverse braceor strut lat the front, the two shells being Xed at lthe rear end bycross members disposed between fthe said symmetrical shells `and 'athird streamlined shell disposed with 'its planeV of symmetry coincidingwith the rst said plane, this third 'shell containing a propulsion-unit'of the assembly which is provided in known manner with diving ailerons'at the "frontwand steering and diving `governors at the rear, thesegovernors beingadapted to be ycontrolled simultaneously by the twodivers -acting manually in known mann'er on fthe device controlling theailerons at the front, Aand fthe other idiving means at the IeT, fldWith Vthe feet 'll "the Steeili'g els "Of 'the vessel.

The description of one embodiment of such a vessel,

rits control means and -la preferred assembly :is given by way ofnon-limitative example, accompanied by diagramfmatic drawings,in which:

4Figure,1:showsatwo-seater submarine vessel according =to theinventio'nseen :in side elevation;

Figure .Y2 safcorresponding Iplan view;

Figure 3 is a iirst transversesecton on the line A-Y-A of Figure l1;

FigureV 4 ris la second transverse 'section Von the line 4B=B -ofFig'ureAl;V

xFigure-5 :isfa third transverse section on the V'line C-C o-f lFiguresl and 2.

AFigure 6i-is' a 'fragmentarytransverse elevation, partly .inrseetion,showing a manual *,control 'of-.the inclinations of the-frontaileronseand-ofthe rear depth governors;

Figure 7 is a plan vie'W,;pa`rtly in section-corresponding to :Figure 6;

Figure 8 isa transverse section von the `line D--D of Y -fFigure 6.

The symmetrical torpedo-'like shells 4are -vshown here .at itz-and 1brespectively -without :the diverstridi'n'g them, A'who-are stretched out:in known manner with the arms of handlebars 2 underneath them, whichthey push under :the armpits while keeping the curved portionsof saidlhandlebars `facing forwardly. The divers -a're also held lrm `.andpushed yby supports which are advantageously obtained -by bicyclesaddles 3 xed one oneach torpedo .substantially Aperpendicular to the:latter and -with the ,pointed end vfacing fthe said torpedo,.symmetrically in .parallel vertical fpl-anes, by means of supports 4held on 4the =iloat of `vtorpedo form by clips 5 of known type.rlhesevsupports 'are fhere :tapered-tat 6,. The diver `holds the jsaddle4 between his vthighs and thus @forms-one with the torpedo. n v

As the :handlebars `zand -thesupports -4 are iixed by `clips 5,.,theyare :readily adjustable .to `the height of the divers.

AThe .two .torpedorshells v1a and 1b are-connected at .the front end bya streamlined vcross-.rneniber 7 with -its ends 8 widened to adapt V-i-t:to -thecorresponding shell and provided with openings 9 through whichextend clips or.straps 11 on the corresponding shell -for tighteningtheassern-bly. At therear end, each torpedo shell .carries a rudder bar'12 adapted to be actuated by Vthe feet of the corresponding diver.

Each rudder bar 12 is locked 4to .a control ,pulley |13 tand isiixed forturning movement -on ashaft -14 carried vertically lin a 'support 15 onthe corresponding shell.

Disposed between the similar 4shellslaand .1b. in their rplane ofsymmetry is a third streamlined .shell 16, which is shorter than the`other two and which contains'the propulsion motor, for example Ian'electric motor, and carries at lits rear end the propulsion propeller17 (Figure 5) `driven thereby, the saidpropellerbeing `protected in.known manner infa streamlined guard ring 18 secured by radial iins 19`of the shell 16, and carrying in rearward extensions `the spindle-21V-of a -conventional rudder 22 and -the spindle v23 of a conventionaldepth governor or .hydroplane T24.

The centra-l shell V`1A6iand the lateral shells 1a and A1b are securedtogether so as to formv a unit by two braces .formed with openings at 25-and hav-ing shoes 26 and `2'7, adapted respectively to be applied vtothe corresponding ,parts "of the symmetrical shells 1a and 1b Aand ofthe shell 1`6.

The assembly is secured, for example, by clips or collars =ZIttand l29respectively'encircling the fsaidshells and passing throughthe1openings2'5 to lock 'the `shoes '26 and '-27 o'n these shells.

The rparts 'cross L'menibers 25a at the front fand `at the rear 'ofopenings-`25 connecting shoes`-26 and 27 are advantageously ofstreamlined section.

At the front, the arrangement of the depth ailerons or hydroplanes is ofthe differential control type 1n a manner known per se and comprises asingle aileron of horizontal axis disposed externally on the outer Sideof each torpedo shell relatively to the assembly on the two shells.

These ailerons or hydroplanes are indicated at 31a Aand 31b respectivelyin Figure 3 and are actuated differentially in known manner by a devicesuch as that shown, by means of a fork forming a control stick with twohandles 32a and 32b, which are gripped by the two divers respectively. 1

This control stick .30 is fixed to .a U-shaped member 33 (Figures 7 and8) which is pivoted about an axis in the plane of symmetry provided byjournal screws 34 formed with shoulders and screwed with interposedwashers 35 into a transverse sleeve 36 which itself turns about thecylindrical part 37 of the pin of the hydroplane 31b, which is providedwith a fork 38d for fixing the said hydroplane and a shoulder 39b.

This cylindrical shaft -37 is journalled in a tubular Vpart 41 weldedtransversely on the shell 1b.

This tubular part `41 is disposed with its outer end 42 serving as astop for the shoulder 3911 on the one hand Vand with its inner end -43serving as a stop, except for clearances, for the `sleeve 36 turning'onthe shaft 37 which traverses it.

After having traversed thering 36, the extension of the shaft 37 servesas a pivot for a sleeve 44 which enclosed it and holds the ring 36(Figure 6) except for longitudinal play.

The sleeve 44 is held so that it is free to turn on the shaft 37 byheaded screws 45 screwed into this sleeve, the heads of the screwspenetrating without being jammed into a circular groove 46 formed in theshaft 37 towards the end thereof. The ysleeve 44 is extended coaxiallyby the pin 47 rof the hydroplane 31a which journals in a tubular member48 forming a bearing and welded on the shell -1a between the shoulder 49of the shaft 47 and an external stop ring 51 held by a pin on the shaft47.

Towards the rear end, the U-shaped member carries fixed on its surfacean elongated plate 52 forming a beam or bar oscillating about theshouldered screw 314 and carrying at its ends opposed and symmetricalslide slots 53a and 53b with an axis perpendicular to the axis ofsymmetry of the double control stick 30.

Sliding in the slideways 53a and 53b are rectangular cages 54a and 54b,respectively, provided with upper and lower guide grooves in contactwith the straight guiding portions of the corresponding slideways 53aand 53b. The rectangular cages 54a and 54b each carry a swivel joint 55aand 55h, respectively, so as to rotate therein. These swivel joints areformed with a bore into which extend freely, with reduced clearance,cylindrical fingers 56a and 56b, respectively, with a shoulder andthreaded extension.

The finger 56a is screwed and locked by its shoulders in a radial holeof the sleeve 44, with which it is thus fast without contacting theshaft 37. The finger 56b is fixed in a similar manner on and through theshaft 37. Disposed in a plane symmetrical with the plane in which 56bturns about the shaft 37 in relation to the plane of symmetry of theassembly, the finger 56b passes with its cylindrical portion into asectorshaped slot 57 formed through the wall of the fixed `tubular part41 so as to permit a sufi'cient circular displacement of the saidfinger, driving the shaft 37 in rotation.

The manner of operation is clear. When the double control stick 30 isinclined from front to rear or vice versa along the sector indicated bythe arrow (Figure 8), the rotation of the plate 52 not turning about theshaft 34 causes the shafts 37 and 47 and thus the hydro:

4 planes 31a and 31b to rotate about equal angles and in the samedirection.

On the contrary, a transverse rotation according to the sector shown byarrows50 (Figure 6) by 30 and 33 driving the bar 52 about the same fixedaxis 34, causes for example a downward rotation of the shaft 37 and anequal rotation in the upward direction of the shaft 47, withconsequently equal and opposite inclinations of the respective cheeks ofthe hydroplanes 31a and 31b.

Any displacements of the control stick 30 will impart to the twohydroplanes inclinations about their axes, the differential result ofcomponents of rotation in the two longitudinal and transverserectangular planes, received by the control stick 30.

In order to obtain the conjugation in rotation in opposite directions ofthe hydroplanes 31a, 31b and of the plane 2'4 of the rear depth governoror hydroplane under the influence of the longitudinal components of thedisplacements of the double control stick 30 about .the shaft 37, aconnecting rod 58 is operated, this acting on a lever 59 connected bycables 60 to a lever 62 giving a rotational movement to the plane 24, bypivoting it on a shaft extending through a hole 61 in the end of a part62 fast with the rotating sleeve 36 (Figure 3).

The end of thepart 62 carrying the hole 61 is cranked and arranged so asto provide in the suitable transverse plane a lever having its fixedaxis coaxial with that of 37 and driving the connecting rod S8 under thesole inuence of the rotations of the sleeve about the axis 37 vThemovement of the rocker bars 12 is conjugated by the passage of anendless cable 63, which is wound around the pulleys 13 and, betweenthese latter, by the run of the cable to the rear of these pulleys, on afixed receiving pulley 64 turning with its shaft in the plane ofsymmetry of the apparatus on the shell 16 and connected for example by arod 65 disposed between an arm 66 fast with the pulley 64 and a lever 67keyed on the shaft 21 of the check 22 of the steering governor (Figure5).

A loose return pulley 68, the shaft of which is fixed parallel to and infront of that of the pulley 64 on the shell 16 permits at the same timeas a displacement of the bars toward the front of their axes ofrotation, the free return of the feel of the divers without contactingthe front run of the cable 63 connecting the pulleys 13.

The shells 1a and 1b will be able to serve as storage means foraccessories other than the motor contained in the shellV 16, moreespecially propulsion accumulators in the general case where this motoris an electric motor.

They may contain all other accessories of the submarine vessel orequipment carried by it and carry all the control members not shownherein, connections by insulated cables or fluid-tight tubes beingprovided between these lateral shells and the central shell.

Without `departing from the invention, many modifications can beincorporated into the embodiment of such a two-seater submarine vessel,while remaining within the scope thereof. Instead of the double controlstick which has been described, it is possible to use two conjtrolsticks connected to one another, for example, by a deformableparallellogram device for `connecting them in their transversemovements.

In any known manner, one of the control parts on which the hand of thepupil can act and of the control system by rudder bars actuated by thesaid pupil can be disconnected from this control system by theinstructor in order that the latter ensures thathe alone is in control.

It will also be possible to provide the shutting-off of the motorcontrols which normally will be actuated by each 0f the two divers.These arrangements are especially to be provided in the case where thesecond diver is essentially only a passenger for a journey or asubmarine exploration, but is not a trainee pilot or a second pilot. v f

What I claim is:

1. A first and second seater submarine vessel comprising two streamlinedshells each adapted to be mounted by a diver, means interconnecting saidshells at the front end thereof, a third streamlined shell disposedbetween said two shells at the rear end thereof, means connecting saidthird shell with said two shells, propulsion `means disposed in saidthird shell, hydroplanes mounted at the front of said vessel, steeringand diving planes mounted at the rear of said vessel, common manuallyoperable control means coupled to said hydroplanes and said divingplanes first and second handles connected to said control means, each ofsaid handles adapted to actuate said control means, said first handleextending closer to said lirst shell than said second handle and saidsecond handle extending lcloser to said second shell than said rsthandle and two sets of operating pedals coupled to said steering planesone of said sets mounted to said rst shell and the other of said setsmounted to said second shell. n

2. A two-seater submarine vessel comprising rst and second streamlinedshells each adapted to be mounted by a diver, means interconnecting saidshells at the front end thereof, a third streamlined shell disposedbetween said two shells at the rear end thereof, means connecting saidthird shell with said two shells, propulsion means disposed in saidthird shell, hydroplanes mounted at the front of said vessel, steeringand diving planes mounted at the rear of said vessel, common manuallyoperable control means coupled to said hydroplanes and said divingplanes and common operating pedals coupled to said steering planes,support means mounted on said iirst and second shells and adapted to begripped hetween the thighs of said divers.

3. A Vessel as described in claim 2, said support means comprisingbicycle-saddles disposed transversely of said first and second shells,the narrower portion of said saddles being directed toward said rst andsecond shells.

4. A two-seater submarine vessel comprising first and second streamlinedshells each adapted to be mounted by a diver, means interconnecting saidshells at the front end thereof, a third streamlined shell disposedbetween said two shells at the rear end thereof, means connecting saidthird shell with said two shells, propulsion means disposed in saidthird shell, hydroplanes mounted at the front of said vessel, steeringand diving planes mounted at the rear of said vessel, common manuallyoperable control means coupled to said hydroplanes and said divingplanes and common operating pedals coupled to said steering planes, saidinterconnecting means 6 having end portions shaped partially to embracesaid shells, Xing clips encircling said shells and said end portions andadapted to be tightened whereby said end portions are clamped againstsaid shells.

5. A two-seater submarine vessel comprising rst and second streamlinedshells each adapted to be mounted by a diver, means interconnecting saidshells at the front end thereof, a third streamlined shell disposedbetween said two shells at the rear end thereof, means connecting saidthird shell with said two shells, propulsion means `disposed in saidthird shell, hydroplanes mounted at the front of' said vessel, steeringand diving planes mounted at the rear of said vessel, common manuallyoperable control means coupled to said hydroplanes and said divingplanes and common operating pedals coupled to said steering planes, saidconnecting means comprising a pair of shoes, each adapted respectivelyto embrace partially one of said rst and second shells and said thirdshell, cross members interconnecting said shoes and fixing clipsencircling said shoes and said first and second shells.

6. A two-seater submarine vessel comprising rst and second streamlinedshells each adapted to be mounted lby a diver, means interconnectingsaid shells at the front end thereof, a third streamlined shell disposedbetween said two shells -at the rear end thereof, means connecting saidthird shell with said two shells, propulsion means disposed in saidthird shell, hydroplanes mounted at the front of said vessel, steeringand diving planes mounted at the rear of said vessel, common manuallyoperable control means coupled to said hydroplanes and said divingplanes, pedal control means mounted to a rear portion of each of saidshells, each of said control means comprising a rudder bar, a pair ofpedals ai-lixed to said rudder bar, a control pulley pivotally mountedto said shells, said rudder bar being xedly secured to said pulley, anendless cable traveling between the control pulley pivotally mounted tosaid rst and second shells, a rudder pulley secured to a rear portion ofsaid third bar, said rudder pulley engaging said endless cable, saidrudder pulley being connected to said steering planes whereby as eitherset of said pedals are Irotatably displaced said steering planes aredisplaced.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,303,266 Dougan May 13, 1919 2,722,021 Keogh-Dwyer Nov. 1, v1955FOREIGN PATENTS 1,148,743 France June 24, 1957

